How much is too much?

Saturday, July 14, 2012

So I went to the mall looking for a good pair of walking shoes. I asked the clerk what would be a good pair. He asked me how much I walk & when I told him about 3 miles a day, he said most people walk under 2 miles a day.

So my question is how much is too much. I do not feel like I am overdoing it. I actually feel like I could walk farther somedays! My hubby just looked at5 me & said "your not most people so keep doing what you fell comfortable with" I remember my grandma walking 5 miles a day.

DDHEART
Well, Brenda, it is true that most americans don't walk much...that's partly the problem...my pedometer is calibrated to my stride and 2000 steps is a mile for me...I know that a lot of what I've read here and elsewhere suggests we strive for 10,000 steps a day to lose wt and optimize our cardiovascular health...5,000 steps a day to just maintain fitness I think...so for me that would be 5 miles a day to lose and 2.5 miles a day to just stay where I'm at...now that's very simplistic but I guess what I'm saying is the guy in the store was trying to complement you saying more like wow...most people don't do that much...and your husband is so right...what you've been doing has not only felt good to you but it's been working! So, don't let anyone make you think otherwise.1606 days ago

MNTWINSGAL
I think you are going at it in the best way - like your DH says, do what feels comfortable for you. I definitely don't think 3 (or more!) miles are too much if it isn't hurting you. Go for it!1608 days ago

LADYCALICO
True, most Americans walk under two miles per day, which is one of the main reasons we tend to be heavier than Europeans. According to Leslie Sansome, two miles about three times per week is the minimum for maintaining good health (of course, different experts vary, what else is new?) Doing the two miles more frequently makes a positive impact on health and weight loss and three daily miles done more than three times a week makes a major impact on weight loss for someone who is eating a healthy diet, and also tends to make major differences in cardiac health and other health indicators (cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure etc.) I personally consider 3 miles for 5-6 days a week to be plenty, but Dr. Oz encourages people to aim for 10,000 steps a day (@4.75 miles) which is doable by having a 4 to 4.5 mile walk plus your normal daily activity. Dr. Oz would have loved your grandma. Breaking the distance into several shorter walks is fine and easier on the feet. Your husband gives the best advice--do what feels comfortable for you and you will find yourself naturally wanting to go further as you get slimmer and gain strength and endurance. Push yourself to miserable lengths too soon and you are more likely to quit. Of course, doing any walking is better than nothing. Even 5 minutes a day improves the blood pressure of people who were previously not walking at all. Add some basic strength training and after-walk stretches if you want to start feeling like the clock is rolling backwards. 1608 days ago

SUNNSHYNE72
Thanks, I never even thought about it that way. I did work my way up to it starting at 1 mile then 1& 1/2 and then to 2. I am at about 2.75 miles a day & want to be doing 3 by the end of the month.1608 days ago

EMMANYC
I know someone who runs 75 miles a week, and it's not too much for her. I know someone else who probably would find it too much to walk 1 mile every other day.

I think the answer depends on your level of fitness across a range of measures - cardio-respiratory, muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, etc. If you had been completely sedentary and suddenly started walking 3 miles a day, 7 days a week, there's a fairly good chance you could end up injured. But if you've built up to walking 3 miles a day gradually, you don't have any lingering pain or discomfort (i.e., discomfort that lasts more than 48 hours), you're not feeling run down, you don't seem to be more prone than usual to illness, and you don't have any underlying medical conditions that would suggest that this is inappropriate, then 3 miles a day seems fine. In fact, in a month, you'll need to do more.

I'll bet the guy in the store was asking because he was trying to get a sense of how much wear and tear you already had put your shoes through (how many miles on them already) and how frequently you'll need to replace the pair you're buying. Or maybe he was complimenting you for doing more than average.1608 days ago